5.15.19 Playing

Weekdays I spend with my little kids, nights together and apart as a family, and weekends I generally spend chasing big kids. I was very anxious about this process this weekend. I hate leaving part of my kids home to aimlessly watch movie after movie as they clean the shelves of any kind of snack item. I did not want to just leave them but it usually wears me out to chase them and to worry about their safety, quiet, manners, etc so I leave them home. I realized I could try something new though I could do something fun with them. Something they would actually like to do. 

We ended up here. Jabbers. 

I was surprised how much Alia did while we were there she really liked crawling on the soft mats playing with toys.

Way better than the grocery stores we usually end up at and much more age appropriate than the shoot the big kids were working at. The courches were the main draw for me. I could have easily curled up and gone to sleep but instead I walked around played or watched my kids play and encouraged them on.

The older kids had a great time running around placing balloons. They still had lots of energy when done having a water fight when I pulled up to take them home. Amazing. 17 kids in all running for 5 hours straight. The next two days took 104 kids and they were not as fast. Wow! Farm kid power I guess.

5.14.19 A Garden Activity

My kids were so excited to do an activity last night. We worked on getting our garden in the ground. We mostly got tomatoes planted and got plans for the other crops. It is so hopefully that the tomatoes will completely fill these tall cages. But honestly caged tomatoes produce so much more than free ones. And yes by August those cages will be full to overflowing. 

We tried a new process this year. We glued our seeds to toilet paper to be less messy and more accurate in spacing. The girls and grandma did strip after strip of beet and bean seed.

The older kids are tentatively wading into the water responsibilities here. Anna and John had went to dig corrugates and came back with hands full of blisters. They will toughen up soon.

These pictures were just too cute. He is such a happy camper all the time but especially when he is working with his brothers. 

And this little lady is sure big stuff these days she pulled herself up the first time yesterday. She couldn't move from this wide power position and she was sure happy to be upright. The more kids we get the faster the young ones want to be big like the older ones. Life goes fast around these parts.

This year I'm taking over garden responsibilities on the farm. I'm a lot nervous. I wondered as I laid in bed last night if I should just go hoe it all up this morning. How am I going to find time to do this? Although it will be a good plan for my hope of getting more fit. The baby above is very possessive and was most content on my back than independently watching. I guess we will figure this stage out too.
It was my birth day. That's always a strange day of anticipation, some self pride and some let-down. I debated what I wanted to do. I ended up watching kung fu panda 2 with the kids and doing some chores. I loved a post I saw about Monday being a big crash back into reality after taking some time off for mother's day. Yep! I made a black chocolate cake which was pretty good, and made my children suffer through tacos for dinner. It was a real toss up to go eat alone so as not to hear their complaints, or stay and eat with them as they are my family. It was cheaper and more efficient to endure their complaints.
We worked together in the garden and ate cake as we studied scriptures. Reed and Millie gave me his pocket change, Addie lettered the envelope. Livy wrote me a card. The fact she could and did do that was the best gift of all. Afton drew me some shapes and happily shared her sentiments with me. They are sweet in their thoughtful gestures of love. I am thankful for the sweet closeness of needy bodies. Their quirks and challenges and the love and excitement they bring into my life. Life is good.

Even as the years tick by I'm surprised at the difficulty of growing up. My own not theirs. They are still in the graceful period of closer observation and direction, of physical maturation that is obvious not in the dull enduring, working to become disciplined and improving.

This year I'm working on growing up. That seems to be the only answer to some problems that keep churning around. To just choose/work/repent/fake it till you make it grow up. Lots of praying will hopefully help this uncharted journey be successful and progress to be noticeable. The lack of noticeable progress is a  frustrating part of adulthood. There are few big milestones to check off anymore, just daily tasks most of which are tedious and the real work of keeping focused and intentional on the endless cycle. I read today in the scriptures about keeping a firm mind. What a great descriptor to stay firm, not lead away be vain imaginings, past hurts, hopes and dreams but to know and remember what is real and what is not.

Maybe that is part of aging? I have been leaving elements on when removing pans... maybe I'm loosing my mind? Time will tell. Another year, not wiser but more experienced on the books. Much more forgotten and more need to write it down because it flits through my hands and mind's memory like sands in an hour glass. Here's to growing like the tomato plants, to finally bear good fruit and to be majestic. If only it happened as fast, May to late August boom! Success!! Maybe it is and I'm not seeing it. Time will tell.

5.6.19 A New Shirt

I'm writing in awe of the difference a new shirt can make. It's the difference between a wave and stopping getting out of the car and giving a hug, visiting for a few or a lot of minutes. A new shirt means I will not be hiding behind the wheel but rather smiling and recharging as I visit with others. It is the strength to try to share love and concern with those around me. It's maybe overrated but I'm thankful I indulged nad bought one because today it has meant the difference between loving others and hiding at home.

I got the shirt on Saturday while I waited fro my boys who were attending a merit badge fair. I spent about 2 hours trying on clothes with Bruce and Alia in tow. They were awesome. I was excited to have gone down a size and to find some pieces I liked at prices I would pay.

Today is this girl's birthday. From the get go she has been concerned for me. Over a decade ago I had my first and last vacation from kids.  I spent the entire 7 days with her in Boise in the NICU. I cried I rested, I ordered delicious hospital food truly it was good! I watched movies and pondered. I enjoyed the spring flowers and the break from my kids. I worried about my ability to mother 6 kids and wondered who that baby would become. She is amazing. She is one of my children who has been aware of my needs and seeks for me to have a break or relax. She gives me things like a nights sleep from the time she came home from the hospital she wanted to sleep alone and all through the night! She wants to do things that would make less stress for me. She is organized and energetic. She wants to be known and she has a knack for happiness. She is focused and willing to do what it takes (WORK) for what she wants.

Life is good we had a full weekend and came away with new and renewed friendships and experiences.

One final note in the scriptures there has been much said about Mary listening vs. Martha working while Christ was in their presence. I am so a Martha. I too am worried much. I too need to choose to listen to the Saviors words more. I find peace in the scriptures and in holy music. Martha also went on to bear strong testimony that Jesus was in fact the Son of God and could do all things, and then she cried with sadness that even in His presence her brother was dead and she missed him. I too have a testimony of Jesus Christ and yet I loose my temper and get frustrated and upset. I love Martha I love her strength and that her weaknesses are also recorded because good people are mortal people.

5.3.18 Warm weather

The weather has turned warmish and we have officially began to spend time outside in our big house the lawn! Brothers are the best!! I was missing LIa one night and asked where she was? The girls replied Reed had her outside. Now I have been very careful to keep her inside where it is warm, wind and manure free, and boring. Reed took her outside plunked her on the grass where she could observe the chickens from a safe distance and she was a happy camper. He has done this everynight since nad she loves it when he comes home.
The younger girls are learning to ride bikes, thanks to Aunt Rachel finding us some. Livy mastered it in one night thanks to Marks patience running along side. Millie is still trying and the ones younger are still just watching. All the kids the can are riding bikes until I drag them in for dinner or bedtime. Spring is so good.

Alia mastered the sitting up pose. She is getting bigger everyday.

We are working and working on getting the correct pig pictures. Instead of a weigh in you share 4 pictures of your pig, left, right, front back, and one with you in it with them. that is much harder than it sounds. Especially depending on lighting, time of day, willingness of kid and or pig to be cooperative. I have almsot a hundred pictures of pigs on my phone. They move fast. 

The sunsets are glorious. We live in such a beautiful spot and the girls are so good at noticing. They run by me saying mom I need your phone. They return with beautiful scenes I rarely catch during school days.

 Bruce eating in bed. He's such a cutey and funny guy. These are much preferred to cookies or crackers or peanuts I usually find.

5.2.18 Almost there

For better or for worse we are almost through this week of ASB elections. It has been a lot of work both the pretty public side and the at home work get stuff done side. As usual everyone was involved in some way. Aliza was the campaign manager. Anna ordered up 200+ donuts from grandma. She helped some, Reed helped, Addie, and Aliza helped they learned a bunch. Chocolate, coconut, or pumpkin were the offerings. Alia got shots and was not in the mood to be put down or jostled. She just wanted to be held still all alone on moms lap. Poor kid, but blessed kid to have it in small doses not full blown.

Learning from the pro. The best part of large projects is the repetition. Cooking the same thing over a hundred times helps cement how to do the process. Reed was the head mixer making each batch! 

Anna ran a classy campaign just like she is. I liked how her posters turned out. Aliza showed her how to use the copy and color method. For those not abundantly blessed with art talent it works very well.

Man the lessons come fast and furious in high school. It's a great time to find what you're good at and to try your hand at new things. It's a great time to grow. I had a tear in my eye today as I thanked God for the gift of family. Family past and family present. Traditions we continue and things we let go of. Shyness, friendship, confidence, donuts, speaking, serving, talking. So we wait to see what the future will hold. I'm pleased for the kids they are choosing to be. Life is good and nail biting today.

5.1.19 ASB Posters

To take a more full advantage of the high school experience Anna has elected to run for ASB Secretary. So last weekend was full of coloring and preparing. 

Millie has a staring role in Anna's campaign film.

 Reed got in the action too, there were a lot of words to color.
Alia also got to be part of the video, she is really starting to move know and loves to get what she wants.
A very kind and talented friend played the accompaniment to the video.

The generous school secretary also makes an appearance in the video.

Addie spent time trolling pinterest finding poster ideas and sending them to Anna and Aliza, she also began learning to make videos on ivideo. Anna took over and did a great job making a presentation that accurately portrays her. This week she has to catch from missing two days last week and is preparing to miss some days next week.School becomes kind of optional in the spring with FFA involvement.

Last week she was a host/assistant for the Owyhee Field Days. This experience hosts over 1000 5th graders over two days to learn about agriculture and the Owyhee watershed. She loves that project! It is such a great program for the youth to learn more about the obvious yet totally oblivious world around them. She and Aliza spent a few minutes capturing the beauty of the well watered desert and brought home some stunning pictures.

4.30.19 Sick Piggies

The little piggies were doing ok, or so I thought. Maybe out of sight out of mind might be more accurate. A few weeks ago one got taken in for surgery as it's rectum had prolapsed. We are not well acquainted with the vet she was able to fix the problem and we brought home a more expensive little pig. That pig seemed ok from then on. 

However, one morning Mark came in and announced a pig was dead. Thank goodness it was a different one, but discouraging nonetheless. By the time school was over another pig was dead. The 4-h leader came with her husband and observed for a while. They left with the recommendation of yogurt and raw eggs for the pigs to help calm their stomachs and give their GI tract time to heal. So I began making yogurt as it would take a lot. I love my instapot it's the easiest yogurt I've ever made. 

They also left instructions to administer pepto bismol and some liquid tylenol.

Of course the kids were all there it was kinda nice to be all together on a unified job. Not sure where all this water came from but Bruce was making the most of it.
We were also instructed to be careful with our shoes and gloves not wanting to spread the sickness. So we began or one time bleached our boots and shoes.

It's been almost a week since this event. The remaining 2 pigs of that litter are still alive they are still eating yogurt and eggs two times a day, one still looks good and the other is very guant but gets up movement is always a good sign.  My own baby continues to be very demanding crying when set down and too curious for safety. She choked to turning blue on a candy wrapper on Friday night so we are very leery of setting her down anywhere. Evn on the raer clean floor she sweeps under couches and in corners and finds something to choke on. Life is good always lots more to learn.